Must-Watch Sci-Fi Masterpiece Returns After 23 Years, Rated 4.1/5 – Better Than Akira & Ghost in the Shell!

With Metropolis, Rintarō has created one of the pinnacles of Japanese animation. Based on Osamu Tezuka’s manga and loosely inspired by Fritz Lang’s movie, the feature film unfolds an epic science fiction narrative, driven by a bold screenplay written by Katsuhiro Ôtomo (Akira).

Set in a futuristic megalopolis divided into social castes, humans and robots live together under the rule of the formidable Baron Red. The creation of Tima, an android with human-like appearance, will disrupt the city’s balance and plunge Metropolis into chaos.

Blending traditional animation with digital imagery, the film impresses with its visual scale, dizzying world, and rich themes: class struggle, fear of progress, social uprising, and the quest for identity. Behind its seemingly gentle graphic facade lies a dark, powerful, and deeply humanistic story.

Spectacular, moving, and visionary, Metropolis is now acknowledged as a timeless classic of global animation. Its re-release in theaters on December 24 offers the perfect opportunity to (re)experience its magnificence on the big screen.

Viewer Reviews

Jbbox (5/5): “What can be said about Metropolis other than it is simply one of the greatest masterpieces of Japanese animation? Here, the massive resources have been brilliantly utilized: CGI, music, and traditional drawings are absolutely divine, and they all serve an incredibly beautiful, poetic, and touching plot. This is far from European or American blockbusters, which often equate to silly plots and clichés of all kinds. A must-see, whether you’re a fan of Japanese animation or not!“

A visitor (5/5): “One of my favorite anime films (right behind Spirited Away). The blend of modernism (settings, robots, etc.) and a certain retro aspect (character design, music, etc.) is very successful, and the ending, enhanced by Ray Charles’ music, is superb. Definitely a must-watch.“

A visitor (5/5): “In Metropolis, a gigantic city very similar to that of Fritz Lang, the encounter between a pretty android and a young man becomes much more than a tribute to the old cinema masterpiece; Rintaro gives us a beautiful story that will leave no one tearless. The graphic style is striking: the characters are drawn in a naive style reminiscent of the good old Astro Boy, giving them a certain softness against the backdrop of the plot’s harshness and violence, and the sets are dizzyingly successful (it reminds me a lot of the style of Bioshock in some ways)! Absolutely a must-see for an unforgettable experience and recommended to anyone still doubting the quality of Japanese animation.”

A visitor (5/5): “Iconic! The technical quality of the drawing is very impressive! The computer-created settings allow for a gargantuan field of view and accurately reflect the size of Metropolis. The story is engaging and keeps you riveted. Very entertaining, a must for fans of cyberpunk, science fiction, and manga… Definitely a must-watch along with Ghost in the Shell, Akira, and Heavy Metal.”

A visitor (5/5): “A Japanese animated film that dates back some years, but for those who have never seen it, or who haven’t seen it in a long time, it is essential viewing. An absolutely heart-wrenching story, a masterpiece without a doubt! It’s impossible not to shed a tear, especially with such an emotional ending accompanied by a beautiful song by Ray Charles. For thrill-seekers, you will experience them all in this magnificent cinematic work!”